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On'yomi
SHI

history · chronicle

Details

Strokes5
Frequency#511
Radicalmouth(3)

Stroke Order

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Strokes5

Cultural Context

Etymology

Shape of hand holding brush. Recording history.

Symbolism

History, historical fact, records. Represents history.

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

史上空前

しじょうくうぜん

unprecedented in history; unheard-of; epoch-making; unprecedented in history

Proverbs & Idioms

歴史は繰り返す

れきしはくりかえす

History repeats itself

Similar events occur again over time

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 史 mean in Japanese?

史 means history, chronicle.

How do you read 史?

On'yomi: シ (SHI).

How many strokes does 史 have?

史 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 口 (mouth).

Is 史 a good kanji for a tattoo?

Yes. 史 (history, chronicle) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.

Explore by meaning:kanji for history · kanji for chronicle